Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has instructed regional units to reduce the use of chicken eggs in the menu of the government's free nutritious meal program (MBG), amid concerns that soaring demand could drive prices higher.

Deputy Head of BGN Nanik S. Deyang announced the directive during a regional inflation control coordination meeting broadcast live on the Ministry of Home Affairs' YouTube channel on Monday, November 17, 2025.

"We will scale back the use of eggs starting in December to prevent further price increases," she said.

Nanik said she had conveyed the request to BGN Secretary General Sarwono. She also asked that egg usage be lowered again ahead of Eid, warning that the number of MBG kitchens is expected to double next year.

Rising demand, expanding kitchens

According to BGN data, as of November 16, 2025, Indonesia had 15,162 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG), the kitchens responsible for preparing and distributing free meals. During the same period, the program reached 41.3 million beneficiaries.

The government aims to increase the number of SPPG units to 25,000 in December and expand further to 32,000 units by February 2025.

Chicken eggs are currently the second-most-used protein source in the MBG program, with an average requirement of 1,105 kilograms per kitchen. Chicken meat remains the largest protein component, requiring around 1,630 kilograms per SPPG.

Egg prices continue to climb

At the meeting, Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti reported that chicken egg prices continue to rise nationwide.

In the second week of November, the national average price of eggs increased by 0.32 percent compared to October, reaching Rp31,646 per kilogram. This figure already exceeds the government's reference price of Rp30,000 per kilogram at the consumer level.

Amalia said 157 regions recorded price increases in the second week of November, up from 156 regions the week before.

Egg prices also vary significantly across the country. The highest recorded price, Rp100,000 per kilogram, was found in Mamberamo Tengah, Papua Pegunungan.

Other high-price areas included Puncak Regency and Intan Jaya Regency, both at Rp90,000 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the lowest price was Rp23,320 per kilogram.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2066403/why-indonesia-is-reducing-egg-use-in-its-free-meal-program-men